The fallout continues from Patriots Owner Robert Kraft's
comments in the BOSTON GLOBE on Sunday that he may have to move
the team if he doesn't get financial help from the state. On
Tuesday, a Senate committee dropped a $35M appropriation for
highway improvements in the area of Foxboro Stadium. Sources
close to the issue said it was because legislators were "angered
by Kraft's complaints about his treatment by the state" (Richard
Kindleberger, BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1). Yesterday, Gov. William Weld
reiterated his desire to assist Kraft, although he said he never
made any specific offers of state help. Weld: "I think we
should help him out." But later, Weld said that he hoped that
"before we spend a lot of money on keeping the Patriots here, we
might want to elicit a commitment from the Patriots to stay in
Massachusetts for the next ten years or so." Weld will file
legislation within a month "aimed at improving Foxboro Stadium
parking and access" (Lehigh & Howe, BOSTON GLOBE, 2/2). Weld
said he would be willing to "spend something less" than $100M to
have the team stay in Foxboro if plans for a Boston stadium fall
through: "With infrastructure support and if [Kraft] got ...
the club seats and luxury boxes, I think he could make money in
Foxboro" (Robert Connolly, BOSTON HERALD, 2/2).
UNPATRIOTIC? Kraft has been the focus of editorials and
columns since Sunday. The BOSTON GLOBE'S Dan Shaughnessy writes
Kraft "did a good thing" and saved the franchise. "But he
overpaid for the team. Now he is coming at us, tin cup in hand,
asking for dough to improve his football stadium. It's kind of
like me asking my neighbors to bail me out on that mortgage." An
editorial in yesterday's GLOBE states: "While the state should
finance road improvements at Foxboro Stadium, subsidizing the
company that does business there is more troublesome. ... It
would be unwise for the state to make deals that solely benefit
private sports franchises (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1). The BOSTON HERALD
states that Kraft has "a lot to learn" about dealing with state
government, but calls on the state to fund the "needed" road
improvements (BOSTON HERALD, 2/2).

L.A. Coliseum commissioners said yesterday the Raiders have
not "exercised a contract option to play in the facility next
season." According to terms of a deal signed last year "under
which the Raiders played rent free," the team had 30 days after
its final game to exercise an option to play next season under a
new contract. The commissioners reported that Raiders Owner Al
Davis has stated that he will not play in the Coliseum next
season, and has mentioned Anaheim Stadium, Dodger Stadium or the
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as possible alternatives. Last
month the Coliseum Commission decided not to extend the option
deadline for the team, and said the Raiders "could not count on
playing rent free again." Raiders attorney Amy Trask said while
the team "did not exercise our option, we are in constant
communications with commission representatives and have not
foreclosed any possibilities." The commissioners also said it is
possible a CFL team could play a 10-game home schedule beginning
in June and not interfere with the Raiders or USC schedules
(Kenneth Reich, L.A. TIMES, 2/2).

Henry Savelkoul, Chair of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities
Commission said Wednesday that a Target Center buyout package
must be in place by February 13 or the Twin Cities again "could
face the loss of the Timberwolves." February 13 is the date the
NBA's Board of Governors meets in Phoenix during All-Star
weekend. Savelkoul: "My concern is that we have the owners all
getting together at the All-Star Game in about 10 days, and if we
don't have it done by that time they might say, 'We're going to
make a decision.'" Savelkoul did say that no NBA official "had
specifically warned him that the NBA had such definitive plans."
March 1 is the deadline for team owners to advise the league of
intentions to relocate. Wolves and Target Center co-owner Marv
Wolfenson said that he and partner Harvey Ratner have not filed a
relocation application "nor did they plan to do so." Glen Taylor
has an agreement to buy the Wolves, provided the public buyout of
the Target Center is completed (Jay Weiner, Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 2/2).